Convertible top for cabriolet



Nov. 3, 1964 T. F. BAUER CONVERTIBLE TOP FOR CABRIOLET Fi1ed Oct. 3, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. mm M BY i Nov. 3, 1964 'r. F. BAUER 3,155,424

CONVERTIBLE TOP FOR CABRIOLET Filed Oct. 3, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENJ'OR.

TQldaMw-M By WOW? Nov. 3, 1964 T. F. BAUER CONVERTIBLE TOP FOR CABRIOLET 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 3. 1961 l. E v m a LY Nov. 3, 1964 BAUER 3,155,424

CONVERTIBLE TOP FOR CABRIOLET Filed Oct. 5, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 i bi 6,

INVEIYT R. WW By W NOV. 3, T. F. BAUER CONVERTIBLE TOP FOR CABRIOLET Filed Oct. 3, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 3,155,424 CQNVER'HBLE TOP FOR CABRlOLET Theodor Frodewin Bauer, Leinfelden, near Stuttgart, Germany, assignor to Shittgarter Karosseriewerk Reutter & Co. G.m.b.H., Stuttgart, Germany, a limiteddiability company Filed Get. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 142,565

Claims priority, application Germany, (let. 8, 1960,

fit 16,992

12 Claims. (Cl. 296-107) The present invention relates to a convertible top for a cabriolet.

The conventional convertible tops for cabriolets usually consist of several sections which are flexibly connected to each other and are provided with struts for tightening the covering material of the top when the latter is closed. When the top is opened, the first of these sections next to the windshield frame is pivoted upwardly and all of them are then folded together toward the rear in a zigzag formation. Since the struts are located closely adjacent to the joints between the sections, the first and second sections can be folded together only if the strut adjacent to the joint between these two sections is connected to the rods which form the frame of the top by means of a special rod system whereby this strut is moved away from the joint when the sections are being folded together. The movability of this strut, however, prevents it from being mounted so securely, that in the event of an installation of a sliding top the covering material behind this strut will be held by it with sufficient safety.

On smaller two-door cars, the convertible top generally consists of three sections which may be folded together by means of a relatively simple mechanical structure. On larger cars, for example, with four doors, however, the division of the top into three sections requires the individual sections to be of such a great length that the folded top can no longer be stored behind the rear seats of the car. If, on the other hand, the top is divided into a greater number of sections, for example, as usual into four sect-ions, the two last sections must be connected to each other by means of a special, rather complicated rod system to permit the first section to be pivoted upwardly when the top is being opened. Such a division of the convertible top into more than three sections has the further disadvantage that, when the top is folded together, the greater number of frame rods thereof which are then placed upon each other take up such an amount of space in the vertical direction that the folded top can be stored away only with great ditficulty or in sometypes of car bodies not at all.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a convertible top for an automobile which when folded together takes up considerably less space than similar convertible tops of prior designs, and which may also be modified so as to serve as a sliding top.

According to the invention, this object will beattained by designing the first strut which engages with the windshield frame so as to be slidable in the direction towards the second strut along the longitudinal axes of the rods forming the frame of the top. This may be achieved, for example, by slidably connecting the first strut to the frame rods. The ends of the frame rods which project when the first and second struts are pushed together may then be turned over by a suitable mechanism or be removed. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention it is also possible to connect the first and second struts by means of frame rods which are telescopically movable relative to each other. This feature of the present invention permits the first section of the convertible top to be made of a greater length than the other sections so that, when the top is folded together ice after the first section has been shortened by moving the first strut toward the second strut, the folded top will take up considerably less space in the longitudinal direction of the car. With such a structure it is also possible to build a convertible top for large four-door cars of only three sections which when folded together will not take more space in the longitudinal direction of the car than a folded top of the conventional type for a smaller car. By dividing the convertible top only into three sections the advantage is attained that the complicated rod system between the last two sections which is required in the conventional convertible tops with four or more sections becomes unnecessary and that the folded top takes up less space in the vertical direction which also permits it to be more easily stored away.

Another advantageous feature of the invention consists in firmly securing the frame rods of the first section to a second strut which is disposed at a sufiicient distance from and in front of the joint between the first and second sections of the top so that it will not interfere with the folding of these two sections. This second strut may then serve as a supporting member towhich the covering material may be firmly secured. The advantage is hereby attained that the covering material behind the second strut will be securely held by this strut even though the material is disconnected from the first strut. This, in turn, renders it possible to provide the first strut, which is preferably of a caplike or cowllike shape, in the form of two strut parts which may be locked to each other and the rear of which may be firmly secured (to the front edge of the covering material. The ends of the rear strut part may then be connected to the frame rods of the top in a manner so as to be slidable toward the rear. The convertible top according to the invention may thus be designed so as also to form a sliding top so that only a part of the top may be opened if the weather does not permit it to be opened completely. This feature of the invention was not possible in the known type of convertible tops since they could only be opened entirely or had to remain fully closed. Since the operation of closing a convertible top is rather complicated and cannot be carried out so quickly that at a sudden rainstorm the passengers of the car will not be drenched, the inventive feature which permits at changeable weather that the top be only partly slid back and also to be closed quickly when necessary will be felt by all cabriolet owners to be a considerable advantage.

The aforementioned as wellas numerous other objects features, and advantages of the present invention will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a side view of a cabriolet with a closed top and indicates in dort-and-dash lines the position of the top when the sliding part thereof is opened;

H6. 2 shows a part of a view similar to FIG. 1, but with a partly opened top, and it indicates in dot-and-dash lines an intermediate position of the top during the time when it is being fuhy opened; 7

FIG. 3 shows a view similar to FIG. 2, but in which the top is fully opened;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the top views of a frame rod of the convertible top according to FIGS. 1 to 3, in the extended and telescoped positions;

FIG. 6 shows a cross section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 shows a cross section taken along lines 77 of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 show three top views of the front part of the first section of the convertible top but without the covering material, in the closed position, in the position in which the sliding top is opened, and in the position in which the caplike first strut is pushed back;

FIG. 11 shows a top view of the mechanism for locking the caplike first strut to the windshield frame and of the mechanism for locking the sliding top in a fixed position; while FIG. 12 shows a cross section taken along lines 12-12 of FIG. 4.

In'the drawings, and as shown particularly in FIG. 2, the convertible top according to the invention comprises three sections 1, 2, and 3, the supporting rods 4, 5, and 6 of which form the frame of the top and are connected to each other in a conventional manner by joints 7 and 8 and by scissorlike rods, not particularly shown, so that when the first section 1 is pivoted upwardly about the joint 7, the second joint 8 will also be actuated so that the top will be folded together in a zigzag formation and may then be sunk in the manner as shown in PEG. 3 into a rear compartment 9 which is provided in the car for this purpose. Rods 4, 5, and 6 of the top frame are provided in pairs, that is, one set at each side of the top, and the corresponding rods at both sides are connected to each other by struts 11, 12, 13, and 14 which extend transversely of the car. Strut 13 of the second section 2 is disposed so closely to the joint 7 between the first and second sections that it would normally prevent these two sections from being folded together. For this reason, strut 13 is not directly connected to the frame rods but through another pair of rods 15 which are pivotabiy connected to frame rods 4 and 5. The covering material 16 of the top is firmly connected to the struts 11 to 14.

' As illustrated particularly in FIG. 1, the first section 1 of the top is considerably longer than the two other sections 2 and 3. Aside from the first caplike strut 11, the front edge of which is shaped in accordance with the upper arm 17 of the frame of the windshield 18 and which may be locked to this frame, this first section ]l is also provided with a second strut 12 which, since it is spaced at a considerable distance from joint 7, is rigidly connected to the frame rods 4. This solid connection between the strut l2 and the frame rods 7 permits the part of the car top between the first strut 11 and the second strut 12 to be designed as a sliding top in the manner as subsequently described.

FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate in detail the telescoping design of the frame rods 4 according to the invention. Each of the two rods 4 consists of three specially molded frame members 21, 22, and 23 of sheet metal. The rear frame aember 21 is substantially U-shaped and open at its upper side, and the upper edge portion 24' of the lateral web 24 thereof which faces toward the inside of the car is bent over at a right angle in the direction toward the other lateral web 25. The upper end portion 25 of this web 25 is first bent over in the same direction as the edge portion 24' and then upwardly at an oblique angle. The area which is enclosed by the main web, the lateral web 24, and the end portion 24' of frame member 21 is adapted to receive two guide members 26 of a suitable plastic, for example, polyamide, which are rigidly connected to web 24 for guiding a U-shaped part 27 of frame member 22. This part 27 surrounds the guide members 26 in a manner so as to permit frame member 22 to be shifted only in its longitudinal direction relative to frame member 21, while in any other direction it is rigid with frame member 21. The main web of the U-shaped guide part 27 is secured to the main web of another U-shaped frame part 28, the upper web of which carries a rail 29 for guiding a part of the first strut 11 which will be subsequently described in detail.

Frame member 23 consists of a step-shaped strip of sheet metal which is bent three times about longitudinally extending axes and is pivotably connected at its front end by a joint 31 to the front end of frame member 22 so as to be pivotable relative to the latter about the substantially vertical axis of this joint and into the open side of the U-shaped frame part 28 which faces toward the inside of the car, as shown in FIGURE 7. A vertical web and integrally therewith a horizontal web 23' of frame member 23 extend similarly as web 25 and the horizontal web of the end portion 25 of frame member 21, and these two webs of both frame members 21 and 23 form right angles, the inner sides of which carry resilient sealing members 34 and 35 which engage with the upper edges of the car windows 32 and 33 when the car top and the windows are closed.

At the inside of the rear end of the U-shaped frame part 28 a bell crank 37, 38 is mounted so as to be pivotable about an axis as. One arm 37 of this bel-l crank has an elongated hole 3? into which a pin 41 engages which is secured to the rear end of frame member 23. The other arm 38 of the bell crank engages with one end of a pin 42 which extends vertically to arm 38 and to the pivot axis 36 and is acted upon by a compression spring 43 which tends to pivot the bell crank 37, 38 in a counterclockwise direction, whereby frame member 23 is pushed to the position as shown in PEG. 4, in which the sealing member 34 engages with the upper edge of window 32, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Pin 42 is mounted in an angle iron 44, so as to be slidable in its axial direction. The front edge of the horizontal part of the edge portion 25' of web 25 is beveled and the adjacent edge portion 45 is bent upwardly so as to form a guide surface 45' which extends at an acute angle in the longitudinal direction of the car and engages with a guide surface 46' which extends at a corresponding angle and is formed by the upwardly bent edge portion 46 of the rear end of the horizontal part 23 of frame member 23. These abutting oblique guide surfaces 45 and 46 are adapted to pivot frame member 23 about the joint 31 and into the U-shaped part of frame member 22 when frame members 22 and 23 are being pushed into frame member 21, so that the different parts of frame rod 4 may be telescoped without danger of damaging the sealing member 34. During this telescoping movement, arm 38 of bell crank 37, 38 also disengages from pin 42, so that the outwardly directed pressure of spring 43 no longer acts upon frame member 23.

The main web of the rear half of frame member 21 is provided with a slot 4-7 into which a hook 51' is adapted toengage which is secured to the upper end of a post 51 which is provided between the two doors 48 and 49 of the car. This post 51 which may be locked in a fixed position by suitable locking means, not shown, is adapted in a conventional manner to be either extended from or retracted into the car body by being shifted in its longitudinal direction or to be pivoted upwardly from or downwardly to the inside of the car body or to be removed from the car. When the car top is closed, hook 51' engages into slot 47 and is locked therein by a locking bar 52 which is connected to frame member 21 by bolts 54 passing through elongated holes 53 in locking bar 52 and is maintained in the locked position by a draw spring 55. The rear end 52' of the locking bar is bent upwardly and adapted to engage with arm 38 of belt crank 37, 38 when frame members 22 and 23 are being telescoped into frame member 21, whereby locking bar 52 is pushed against the action of spring 55 into the unlocked position, as shown in FIG. 5, so that the contracted frame bar 4 may then be pivoted upwardly about joint 7 which is formed by hinges 56, whereupon the car top may be folded together in the usual manner.

The first caplike strut 11 consists of a front strut part 61 which forms a cowl or cap and is adapted to engage directly against the upper arm 17 of the windshield frame and of a rear strut part 62 which is connected to the front edge of the covering material 16 and the two ends of which are connected to gear racks 63 which are guided in rails 29 on frame members 22 and are meshing with suitable gears of gear units 64 which, in turn, are connected by flexible shafts 65 to a small electric motor 66 which is mounted on the second strut 12 at the center thereof. The gear units 64 may be self-locking gears, for example, worm gears, so that the strut part 62 will thereby be arrested in any intermediate or end position. By switching on the motor 66 for a short time, strut part 62 may thus be moved to any desired position between strut part 61 and strut 12, where it will be held by the selflocking gears 64. Since the front edge of the covering material 16 is connected to strut part 62, a sliding top is formed, and since the covering material is also firmly connected to the second strut 12 and the latter to the frame rods 4, there is no danger that the covering material will be torn loose by the wind when the sliding top is opened.

For locking the front strut part 61 to the windshield frame 17, a hooked lever 68 as shown particularly in FIG. 11 is mounted on strut part 61, so as to be pivotable about an axis 67, and it is held in the locking position by a spring 69. For opening the lever 68, a disk 72 which has a projection '71 may be turned at the side of the front strut 61 facing toward the inside of the car by means of a handle 73 in the direction of the arrow 75 about the axis of a bolt or rivet 74 which connects disk 72 to handle '73 until the projection 71 engages against the lower end of lever 68 and pivots the lever against the action of spring 69 to the unlocking position. Disk 72 also serves for locking the front strut part 61 to the rear strut part 62, and for this purpose disk 72 is provided with a pair of arms '76 which are pivotable about diametrically opposite axes 75, and the free ends of which are pivotably connected to arms 78' which extend through elongated holes '77 in the strut part 61 to the ends of Bowden cables 79 which connect disk '72 to locking bolts 81 which are operatively associated with locking hooks 32 on the rear strut part 62 as indicated in FIGS. 8 to 10. If handle '73 is turned in the clockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 11, disk 72 is turned in the direction of arrow 75 and thereby moves both connecting arms 7 3 outwardly, whereby locking bolts 81, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, are shifted by Bowden cables, so as to engage with the locking hooks 82 on strut part 62. Thus, when the projection 7ft engages with the lower end of locking lever 68, the front strut part 61 is already locked to the rear strut part 62. A further pivoting movement of handle 73 can then be carried out only against the action of spring 6?, so that for unlocking the front strut part 61 and thus the entire first strut ill from the windshield frame 17, the hand pivoting the handle '73 cannot be removed therefrom. In order to move the first strut 11 toward the second strut 12, it is then necessary to employ the other hand for switching on the motor 66 which will then move the rear strut part 62, and thus also the front strut part 61 which is locked thereto, toward the rear until the two struts 11 i and 12 are pushed against each other and are in the position as shown in FIG. 10. In this position, motor 66 is switched off by means of a limit switch, not shown, which at the same time also reverses the electric circuit so that, when motor 66 is again switched on, it rotates in such a direction that the first strut 11 will be pushed forwardly by the second strut 12 until in the most forward position another limit switch will be engaged which switches off the motor. of the car must employ both hands for operating the handle 73 and also the switch for the motor 66, he cannot possibly open the caplike first strut 11 while driving the car. Thus the danger that the top might be opened and possibly damaged by the strong driving wind which would then act upon the projecting caplike strut 11 is avoided.

Since for opening the first strut 11 the driver substantially the same as in the known types of convertible tops with three top sections-to cover a considerably longer top surface. Therefore, the invention also permits to store the folded top in a smaller rear compartment of a smaller car, while in larger cars, for example, with four doors, it is no longer necessary to divide the top into more than three sections. The folded top according to the invention therefore has smaller vertical dimensions than one with more than three sections and it is possible to employ the more simple construction of a convertible top with three top sections.

As soon as the top has been folded together, a mechanical locking device of a conventional type, not shown, for securing post 51 in the erect position is opened and the latter is pivoted downwardly out of sight into the car body. When post 51 is pivoted upwardly, it is automatically locked in a rigid upright position by the mentioned locking device.

When the convertible top is to be closed, the same procedure is at first followed as when closing one of the conventional three-section tops until all three sections are unfolded and the locking hooks 51' on posts 51 engage into the slots 4'7. Thereupon, motor 66 is switched on whereby the first strut 11 is moved forwardly until the locking hook 68 automatically snaps into a catch, not shown, which is provided on the windshield frame 17.

Post 51 may also be mounted on the car body in a manner so as to be sunk into the body after the top has been folded together, or it may also be removably secured to the car body.

Although my invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, I wish to have it understood that it is no way limited to the details of such embodiment, but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a convertible top for a cabriolet having a plurality of sections with a covering material thereon flexibly connected to each other and each having lateral frame members, transverse struts connecting the opposite frame members to each other for tightening said covering material, means for removably securing the first of said struts to the windshield frame of said cabriolet, the first of said frame members connecting the first and second struts and each comprising a set of telescopically extendible and contractible members for sliding said first strut in the longitudinal direction of said first frame members toward the second strut when said securing means are disengaged, each set of said telescopic members comprising a rear member of sheet metal having a substantially U- shaped cross section open in the upward direction and a front member partly surrounded by and adapted to be telescoped into said rear member, said front member comprising two sheet-metal parts forming outer and inner parts, means for pivotably connecting said two parts at their front ends, sealing means mounted on said outer part adapted to engage with the uper edge of a closed door window of said cabriolet, said inner part forming a load-bearing part of said frame members and guided within said rear member, and guiding means on said rear member for pressing the rear end of said outer front part inwardly when said front and rear members are pushed together.

2. In a convertible top for a cabriolet having a plurality of sections with a covering material thereon flexibly connected to each other and each having lateral frame members, transverse struts connecting the opposite frame members to each other for tightening said covering material, the first of said struts comprising two separate strut parts behind each other, the front strut part having a front edge portion of a shape in accordance with the shape of the upper end of the Windshield frame of said cabriolet, the second of said struts being rigidly secured to the first of said frame members, means for locking said front strut part to said windshield frame and for unlocking it therefrom, means for locking said two strut parts to each other and for unlocking them from each other, the front end of said covering material being secured to said rear strut part, and means for slidably connecting the ends of said rear strut part to said first frame members so as to permit at least said rear strut part to slide along said first frame members toward the second strut when one of said locking means is in the open position.

3. In a convertible top for a cabriolet having a plurality of sections with a covering material thereon flexibly connected to each other and each having lateral frame members, transverse struts connecting the opposite frame members to each other for tightening said covering material, the first of said struts comprising two separate strut parts behind each other, the front strut part having a front edge portion of a shape in accordance with the shape of the upper end of the windshield frame of said cabriolet, the second of said struts being rigidly secured to the first of said frame members, means for locking said front strut part to said windshield frame and for unlocking it therefrom, means for locking said two strut parts to each other and for unlocking them from each other, the front end of said covering material being secured to said rear strut part, means for slidably connecting the ends of said rear strut part to said first frame members so as to permit at least said rear strut part to slide along said first frame members toward the second strut when one of said locking means is in the open position, and control means for operating said locking means so that, when said first locking means are opened, said second locking means are closed, and when said first locking means are closed, said second locking means are opened.

4. In a convertible top for a cabriolet having a plurality of sections with a covering material thereon flexibly connected to each other and each having lateral frame members, transverse struts connecting the opposite frame members to each other for tightening said covering material, the first of said struts comprising two separate strut parts behind each other, the front strut part having a front edge portion of a shape in accordance with the shape of the upper end of the windshield frame of said cabriolet, the second of said struts being rigidly secured to the first of said frame members, means for locking said front strut part to said windshield frame and for unlocking it therefrom, means for locking said two strut parts to each other and for unlocking them from each other, the front end of said covering material being secured to said rear strut parts, means for slidably connecting the ends of said rear strut part to said first frame members so as to permit at least said rear strut part to slide along said first frame members toward the second stint when one of said locking means is in the open position, and powerdriven means for sliding said rear strut part.

5. In a convertible top for a cabriolet having a plurality of sections with a covering material thereon flexibly connected to each other and each having lateral frame members, transverse struts connecting the opposite frame members to each other for tightening said covering material, the first of said struts comprising two separate strut parts behind each other, the front strut part having a front edge portion of a shape in accordance with the shape of the upper end of the windshield frame of said cabriolet, the second of said struts being rigidly secured to the first of said frame members, means for locking said front strut part to said windshield frame and for unlocking it there from, means for locking said two strut parts to each other and for unlocking them from each other, the front end of said covering material being secured to said rear strut part, means for slidably connecting the ends of said rear strut part to said first frame members so as to permit at least said rear strut part to slide along said first frame members toward the second strut when one of said locking means is in the open position, control means for operating said locking means so that, when said first locking means are opened, said second locking means are closed, and when said first locking means are closed, said second locking means are opened, power-driven means for sliding said rear strut part to different positions, and self-locking power-transmitting means connecting said power-driven means to said rear strut part for maintaining said rear strut part in any position in accordance with the operation of said power-driven means.

6. In a convertible top for a cabriolet having a plurality of sections with a covering material thereon fiexibly connected to each other and each having lateral frame members, transverse struts connecting the opposite frame members to each other for tightening said covering material, the first of said struts comprising two separate strut parts behind each other, the front strut part having a front edge of a shape in accordance with the shape of the upper end of the windshield of said cabriolet, the second of said struts being rigidly secured to the first of said frame members, means for locking said front strut part to said windshield frame, spring means for normally maintaining said locking means in the locking position, means for locking said two strut parts to each other and for unlocking them from each other, the front end of said covering material being secured to said rear strut part, means for slidably connecting the ends of said rear strut part to said first fname members so as to permit at least said rear strut part to slide along said first frame members toward the second strut when one of said locking means is in the open position, and control means for operating said looking means so that when said first locking means are opened, said second locking means are closed, and when said first locking means are closed, said second locking means are opened.

7. In a convertible top for a cabriolet having a plurality of sections with a covering material thereon flexibly connected to each other and each having lateral frame members adapted to engage with the upper edge of a closed side window of said cabriolet, each of said first frame members being divided into a front member and a rear member, and said front and rear members being connected with each other for axial movement, transverse first and second struts connecting the opposite frame members of the forward most section of the top to each other for tightening said covering material, means for removably securing said first strut to the windshield frame of said cabriolet.

8. The convertible top for a cabriolet, as set forth in claim 7, which includes sealing means secured to said front and rear members, and said sealing means being adapted to engage at least the upper edge of a closed window of said cabriolet.

9. The convertible top for a cabriolet, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said front and rear members are telescopically movable relative to each other. t

10. The convertible top for a cabriolet, as set forth in claim 7, which includes a post secured to each side of said cabriolet, locking means operatively associated with said first and second struts for locking said rear members to said posts in the extended position of said front and rear members and for unlocking said rear members from said posts upon shifting said first strut toward said second strut.

11. The convertible top for a cabriolet, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said rear member has an elongated aperture, a post secured on each side of said cabriolet and having a locking projection on its upper end, said locking projection extending through said aperture of said rear member, a locking bolt mounted on said rear member for engaging and interlocking with said projection upon extending said front and rear members, and means disposed on said front member for engagement with said locking boit to unlock the latter from said projection upon telescoping said front member into said rear member.

12. In a convertible top for a cabriolet having a plurality of sections with a covering material thereon flexibly connected to each other and each having lateral frame members, transverse struts connecting the opposite frame members to each other for tightening said covering material, the first of said struts comprising two separate strut parts behind each other, the front strut part having a front edge portion of a shape in accordance with the shape of the upper end of the Windshield frame of said cabriolet, the second of said struts being rigidly secured to the first of said frame members and firmly connected with said covering material, means for locking said front strut part to said windshield frame and for unlocking it therefrom, means for locking said tWo strut parts to each frame members toward the second strut when one of said locking means is in the open position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,382,635 Humer Aug. 14, 1945 2,596,355 Ackermans May 13, 1952 2,992,041 McClure July 11, 1961 

1. IN A CONVERTIBLE TOP FOR A CABRIOLET HAVING A PLURALITY OF SECTIONS WITH A COVERING MATERIAL THEREON FLEXIBLY CONNECTED TO EACH OTHER AND EACH HAVING LATERAL FRAME MEMBERS, TRANSVERSE STRUTS CONNECTING THE OPPOSITE FRAME MEMBERS TO EACH OTHER FOR TIGHTENING SAID COVERING MATERIAL, MEANS FOR REMOVABLY SECURING THE FIRST OF SAID STRUTS TO THE WINDSHIELD FRAME OF SAID CABRIOLET, THE FIRST OF SAID FRAME MEMBERS CONNECTING THE FIRST AND SECOND STRUTS AND EACH COMPRISING A SET OF TELESCOPICALLY EXTENDIBLE AND CONTRACTIBLE MEMBERS FOR SLIDING SAID FIRST STRUT IN THE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION OF SAID FIRST FRAME MEMBERS TOWARD THE SECOND STRUT WHEN SAID SECURING MEANS ARE DISENGAGED, EACH SET OF SAID TELESCOPIC MEMBERS COMPRISING A REAR MEMBER OF SHEET METAL HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY USHAPED CROSS SECTION OPEN IN THE UPWARD DIRECTION AND A FRONT MEMBER PARTLY SURROUNDED BY AND ADAPTED TO BE TELESCOPED INTO SAID REAR MEMBER, SAID FRONT MEMBER COMPRISING TWO SHEET-METAL FORMING OUTER AND INNER 